Page 81 of Bound to a Scot
He stiffened as he drew himself up to his full height and held her gaze. The weight of their unspoken words hung heavy in the air between them but in his eyes, she could see the depth of hisfeeling for her. It sent a sad quiver through her heart knowing she had found the man she could build a happy life with but might never get to.
“This isnae over,” Maddox said, his voice low and firm. “This is far from over.”
He gripped her hand through the bars then leaned down and kissed her knuckles. One last bit of affection for the condemned woman. Lorn ushered him away and as she watched them disappear through the doorway of the secret passage, the smile slipped from her lips and a cold, numbing darkness filled her heart as she sat down on the bed of straw and buried her face in her hands, her quiet sobs filling the chamber around her.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
“’Tis a lovely day fer a sail, eh? ‘Tis a pity we sail fer such grim business,” Burchard said and clapped Maddox on the shoulder. “But ‘tis nae all bad. After all, we’ll sign the treaties and formalize our alliance today, eh? The start of a new day.”
Not trusting himself to speak, Maddox said nothing. He simply looked at the man and gave him a firm nod. Burchard frowned but then put a smile back on his face, clapped Maddox on the shoulder again then walked up the dock to the waiting birlinn that would carry them. The sight of Emmeline, chains binding her wrists and ankles, being led up the dock by armed and armored men sent a painful stitch through his heart. He swallowed down the lump in his throat and tried to quell the tempest in his belly.
“Steady, lad,” Lorn said for the umpteenth time in the past days as he took a position beside him.
In the days that followed the scene in the hall, Burchard had stripped Lorn of his title of war chief reasoning that acting on the lady’s orders or not, his loyalty was now in question. He was not cast out and did not face the headsman the way Emmeline did, but he was no longer in Burchard’s favor. That pale, obsequious cockroach, Laith, had unsurprisingly become Burchard’s chief advisor, making official what had already been a fact for a long while.
Burchard was moving quickly to consolidate his power and control. All he needed to do now was to execute Emmeline, freeing him up to marry another fer additional lands, men, and wealth. After that, once he and Cecilia had been wed, Maddox knew Burchard would come for him.
The birlinn was quickly filling up with Burchard’s entourage and soldiers. Maddox ground his teeth, his shoulder’s tensing. The rowers were already below deck, getting themselves set and the captain was issuing orders to his sailors, pulling up sails and readying for the voyage. Time was running short.
“Easy,” Lorn said again.
“Where in the bleedin’ hell is he?”
“He’ll be here. His letter said he’d be here soon.”
They had received a message from Adair letting them know the king had heard him and was sending men to see to this affair for himself. He would not sanction Burchard’s death. Not without proof. But he was willing to hear them speak on the matter. Theproblem was that the birlinn was getting ready to sail and if it left the dock, all was lost.
Maddox and Lorn reluctantly walked up the dock and climbed aboard the birlinn. Still bound, Emmeline sat at the front of the vessel, her eyes red and swollen, as if she’d been crying, but a look of stubborn defiance on her face, nonetheless. Cecilia huddled near her, the girl’s face tear-streaked and her lips quivering.
“We’re almost ready tae go,” Burchard shouted to the sailors. “Let us be away.”
Maddox’s hand drifted to the hilt of his sword. “I guess we dae this me way then.”
“Hold,” Lorn said. “Look.”
Two dozen men on horseback appeared reining to a stop on the shoreline flying the standards of the king himself. And when he spotted Adair, Maddox almost let out a cry of triumph. The soldiers dismounted and a tall man with dark hair and black surcoat bearing the king’s sigil walked up the dock. Maddox cut a glance back at Burchard, whose face blanched and was wracked with confusion. Adair quickly scampered aboard the birlinn and stood beside Maddox.
“We made it,” he whispered.
“With bleedin’ moments tae spare,” Maddox grumbled.
“We wanted tae make a dramatic entrance.”
“Mission accomplished, lad,” Lorn said.
“Laird Macfie,” called the man in the surcoat. “Present yerself.”
A frown on his lips, Burchard stepped to the edge of the birlinn and glowered down at the newcomer. His gaze drifted quickly to Maddox and Adair, his eyes glittering dangerously.
“I’m Laird Macfie,” he called.
“I am Farlan Taillear,” the stranger replied. “I am advisor tae His Royal Highness, King James IV and I am here tae inspect this vessel. I have questions.”
Burchard frowned. “I’ve nay mind tae be answerin’ questions.”
“The king demands answers.”
“About what?”
